"Current license holders will continue to have the same price they've been paying — they pretty much have a rate lock," he said. "They won't see any impacts if they're regular license holders."

Students have been able to rent a "license" for an entire apartment for $1,210, or for a room at a range of costs. The university last month unveiled a new pricing plan that raises the total cost for an apartment to $1,725 and requires three people per apartment.

The proposed increase incensed East Campus residents. But university officials now say rents for current students will continue to add up to $1,210 a month, while new students will have to face the rate increases.

The news comes weeks after university officials faced angry students and after Dean of Students Christine Erickson was harshly questioned by members of the student government. Despite the concerns, university officials had insisted there would be no going back on the proposed pricing change.

However, in an email to students this weekend, university officials said they are reconsidering the price scheme "after listening to the concerns that were voiced during these Town Hall meetings."

The new license rates will be $390 for a shared room and $430 for an individual room.

Graduate students will be able to remain in a large room without sharing for $530 a month.

New students will pay $550 in a shared room and $750 in a small, individual room. All new and returning students will have to share an apartment with two other people.

"I'm surprised. Excited," said Jose Gutierrez, a coordinator with the Tenant Takeover Association, a group that formed after the revised rates were announced.

Higgs said the proposed modifications were never intended to apply to current students, only to the incoming crop.

President Eduardo Ochoa "and myself did not make it clear to (Erickson) what we wanted to see," Higgs said, adding that he became aware of the misunderstanding after talking to students in East Campus housing, about two miles from the main campus.

While the announcement is welcome news for Luiza Caldeira, she is concerned about having to potentially live with a stranger.

"For the most part you still have to deal with the issue of people assigned to you if you don't know anyone who's wanting to live in East Campus," she said. "It's going to be stressful for people who already have their houses set up and prior arrangements with current roommates."